Saturday, April 07, 2007

Republican or Democrat?

I will show you two South Florida snapshots, taken on the various byways and highways of Miami.

Neither car has any kind of outright Party paraphenalia on it -- no elephants or donkeys clinging to their windows like politicised Garfields.

And no, I didn't pull up to their window and ask to see their voters' registrations, although I could've, since I'm a Clerk of a polling precinct and well within my Little Napoleon rights.

But I think it's still interesting to wonder:

Republican, or Democrat?

CLUES

- Flatbed F-150 Ford truck (American make)- One yellow "Support the Troops" ribbon- One red-white-blue "God Bless the USA" ribbon- An aged Triple AAA sticker- A weathered "One Nation Under God" or similar sticker- One blue sticker showing an heart with the US flag colours and "God Bless America"- A licence plate holder advertising "The people of the United Methodist Church", "Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors."- And finally, a tablet of the Ten Commandents to the left hand side, on top of the paintwork

Oh, by the way, the last "American" car I bought was the '29 Ford Sport Coupe. Other than that, it has been "Japanese" or "German" all the way. Funny thing about that, my cars and trucks have yet to darken the door of any repair shop save for oil changes, etc.

I used the scare quotes "" because huge numbers "American" cars are built in Canada or Mexico; Chrysler isn't an "American" car company - it is owned by Germans; my "foreign" Honda was built in Ohio as are a majority of Hondas sold here; my "foreign" BMW Z3 was built in South Carolina; and my Toyota truck was among the last of the Tundra-sized trucks built in Japan (a 1995 T100). Toyota's small trucks have been built in the USA for two decades now. A majority of their cars are built here now, too, I believe.

I've read that most "American" trucks still built in America contain as many foreign parts as American (but I don't know it is true).

Oh, by the way, the last "American" car I bought was the '29 Ford Sport Coupe.

I remember it! A love inherited from your late father, of happy memory.

Other than that, it has been "Japanese" or "German" all the way.

We stick to the Euro cars, although no French rubbish for us. Sorry Shussy!

Funny thing about that, my cars and trucks have yet to darken the door of any repair shop save for oil changes, etc.

Us too...touch wood.

My dad says that Chevrolets are better though, and well do I remember his Impala back when I was a kid. It was ENORMOUS.

But never failed to start even in Canada.

I used the scare quotes "" because huge numbers "American" cars are built in Canada or Mexico; Chrysler isn't an "American" car company - it is owned by Germans; my "foreign" Honda was built in Ohio as are a majority of Hondas sold here; my "foreign" BMW Z3 was built in South Carolina; and my Toyota truck was among the last of the Tundra-sized trucks built in Japan (a 1995 T100). Toyota's small trucks have been built in the USA for two decades now. A majority of their cars are built here now, too, I believe.

Such is this wonderful world of ours, where nothing fits into its box -- thanks to globalisation.

I've read that most "American" trucks still built in America contain as many foreign parts as American (but I don't know it is true)

I heard that the Jeep, so much the quintessential American vehicle after the war, is almost entirely Suzuki parts, etc. now?